cyberlinks

I installed the Enform app on my phone. So, now I can remotely start the car. But, as soon as I open the door the engine turns off. Is there something I can do to keep it running when I unlock the car. I'm a new owner so I apologize if this has been answered already. My car is a 2017 ES350.

lesz

The car is set up to shut off the engine when you open the door after a remote start, and, per posts by quite a few others, I don't believe that there is any way to change that behavior.

cyberlinks

That really makes it somewhat useless. I do understand it maybe a security issue but not really productive.

lesz

Since the Generation 6 ES was released for the 2013 model year, many have expressed the same thought about the various remote start options that have been used for the ES

bc6152

Numerous other manufacturers have their RS systems programmed that you start the vehicle from in the house or other place, the car doors lock, then one must have either a key or a "smartkey" such as our Lexus smartkey to open the door. Then press on the brake shift into gear and away you go. All while the engine continues to run. Unfortunately the Lexus system where the engine turns off cannot be defeated by installing an aftermarket RS system. Poor design all around by Toyota/Lexus. And remember: if you use your smartphone to start the car you're paying a monthly fee.

PhillyPhan

I had the 2007 Toyota Tundra that did the exact same thing. It was very annoying. Why even have that option if you're just going to have to start the vehicle up again. I asked around the Toyota forums back then and same answer, there's nothing you can do about it. Sold that truck and bought a 2014 Ram 2500 a couple of years ago. That had remote start and thankfully when I open the door it stays on. Not sure why Toyota/Lexus set theirs up to run that way.

Kira X

iTrader: (24)

It's a pretty stupid function to be honest. I have a Viper remote start in my SC300 and it only shuts off if you don't put the key in the ignition. The guys at my dealership say the remote starts for other brands work much better.

SW17LS

All Lexus RS systems work this way, yep it's stupid.

Annue61

unfortunately without paying for the app after one year , which is now $240 a year you won’t be able to Remotely start your car

sonatine

Pretty poor design. They just need to integrate it into the key!

dchar

Actually, Lexus lowered the price for a package with Enform Safety and Enform Remote to be a more reasonable $160.99/year

bc6152

Still a rip IMO. However some other manufacturers do the same thing. Volvo for one... Install an aftermarket RS and no monthly fee unless you use a smartphone...

lesz

While I agree that $160/year is more than I'm willing to pay to be able to use the remote starter, to be fair, I think it is necessary to put the issue into some historical perspective.

For many of us who bought a 2013 ES, we had to pay $500 for a remote start option, and that one only allowed remote starting of the car with the fob. For those who bought a 2014 ES, the remote start option that was available came with an $800 price tag, and that one still required an $80/year subscription to use it with a phone app.

For the 2015-2018 model years, Lexus has been including the Enform Remote start as standard equipment on all cars, and, when Lexus started to include it as standard equipment, they did not raise the price of the car at all. So, with the 2013 and 2014 ES, if you wanted remote start capability, you had to pay up front. Since that time, there is no up front cost, but you have to pay for a subscription if you want to use the remote start. Either way, you are paying for remote start. The difference is related to whether you are paying up front or whether you are paying for an annual subscription.

To me, the biggest problem with the way that Lexus is currently doing it is that the perception that is created is that Lexus is gouging its customers, which is why there are complaints about the remote start subscription on virtually all of the Lexus model forums. And the cost of the annual subscription is higher than it needs to be because, if you want to buy the Enform Remote subscription, you also need to pay for Safety Connect and Service Connect. On some of the 2018 models for which Safety Connect and Service Connect are free for 10 years, the Enform Remote subscription is only $80/year. I think that, for the rest of us, if Lexus would allow vehicle owners to buy only an Enform Remote subscription without having to buy the Safety Connect and Service Connect and if the price was $80/year, many of us would consider that to be a reasonable price to pay, especially considering that there was no additional charge for the remote start hardware when we bought our cars.

bc6152

if the price was $80/year, many of us would consider that to be a reasonable price to pay...

I could do $6.66 per month. 666? Wait a minute...